DUNEDIN, Fla. – Shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday morning, a familiar sound blared from the batting cages at the Blue Jays’ spring training facility. Alejandro Kirk had arrived in camp, so his teammates acknowledged his presence by playing his walk-up music, "El Mechón" by Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga.
“It felt great,” Kirk said afterward through interpreter Hector Lebron. “To be here and be with my teammates again, it's awesome.”
His arrival was delayed by two and a half weeks because he was awaiting the birth of his first child, a daughter born earlier this week.
“He's a lovable guy,” added Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “We all love what he does on the field and in the clubhouse. So, it was nice for him to get in. Happy for him and (his family), obviously, with the baby. The vibe kind of picks up a little bit when you get Kirky in the mix.”
"It's super exciting,” added Alek Manoah after making his spring debut against the Pirates in Thursday’s 2-2 Grapefruit League tie. “We've missed him the past two weeks. His daughter was born (so recently), and a day later he's here. It just shows how much he cares and how much he was fighting to get back out here. We're super excited to have him back and get to work."
Understandably, baseball was going to be second on the priority list for a while. As Kirk said: “It's simple. Family comes first, and then the rest.” But at the same time, these last few weeks have been stressful for Kirk, who was also juggling commitments to the Blue Jays and Mexico’s World Baseball Classic Team while attempting to get into game shape. It wasn’t how he would have drawn it up.
“It was a combination for me,” Kirk said. “I was very happy and excited for my baby to be born. But at the same time, there was a little bit of stress because I couldn't be here with the guys getting ready.”
Even if the last few weeks were a period of limbo for Kirk, he did have some resources at his disposal in San Diego. Bullpen catcher Luis Hurtado flew out to facilitate workouts, and a pitching machine was at their disposal for blocking and receiving drills.
Kirk was also able to keep his arm in shape by throwing to bases and test his legs by running. Everything except for hitting on the field, essentially, and if there’s one thing the 24-year-old has always been able to do, it’s hit.
“I'm confident that he'll pick up offensively,” Schneider said. “It's just a matter of getting him going defensively.”
On that front, the next week or so will be important for Kirk, who will begin by catching bullpen sessions soon. Within a week or so, he could be playing in spring games, but there’s no need to rush that ramp-up with four weeks remaining before opening day.
Now that he’s withdrawn from the WBC, Kirk should have more than enough time to familiarize himself with new pitchers like Chris Bassitt and Erik Swanson. And if it requires a little more preparation than usual for this time of year, he’s ready for it.
“I know I won't have the regular spring training,” Kirk said. “It's kind of short timing, but at the same time, you’ve got to be smart about it. We're going to be working hard. I know I've got to work a little bit harder to get ready for the season.”
Once Kirk is ready, he’ll be an integral part of the Blue Jays’ plans on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he’ll share catching duties with Danny Jansen. (Daulton Varsho started 18 games behind the plate with the Diamondbacks last year, but he hasn’t been catching this spring and expects to be used as a late-innings replacement or emergency option, rather than a starter.)
At the plate, Kirk will get regular starts at DH along with Brandon Belt (who’s not yet close to making his spring debut) and others. Following an All-Star season in which Kirk batted .285, posted a .786 OPS and won a Silver Slugger, he’ll begin the season in the middle of the Blue Jays’ batting order.
“When he's going good, it's a ton of on-base and a ton of contact,” Schneider said. “You put that in the middle of the order with guys hopefully getting on at the top of the order and then him getting on for the guys at the bottom. It's a unique profile and a really, really good one to have in the middle of in order. It'll definitely lengthen the lineup.”
The games that matter are still weeks away, though. For now, Kirk’s ready to get back to work in preparation for the challenges to come.
“I feel a lot better,” he said. “Not as much stress (compared to) the last two weeks. I feel great to be here. I've got my baby and I'm very happy about that. Excited for the season now.”
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